James (Easton)

DIC dictionary-entry · status:draft · license:PD

The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder brother of John the apostle. He was one of the twelve. He was by trade a fisherman, in partnership with Peter ( Matthew 20:20 ; 27:56 ). With John and Peter he was present at the transfiguration ( Matthew 17:1 ; Mark 9:2 ), at the raising of Jairus's daughter ( Mark 5:37-43 ), and in the garden with our Lord (14:33). Because, probably, of their boldness and energy, he and John were called Boanerges, i.e., "sons of thunder." He was the first martyr among the apostles, having been beheaded by King Herod Agrippa ( Acts 12:1,2 ), A.D. 44. (Compare Matthew 4:21 ; 20:20-23 ). The son of Alphaeus, or Cleopas, "the brother" or near kinsman or cousin of our Lord ( Galatians 1:18,19 ), called James "the Less," or "the Little," probably because he was of low stature. He is mentioned along with the other apostles ( Matthew 10:3 ; Mark 3:18 ; Luke 6:15 ). He had a separate interview with our Lord after his resurrection ( 1 Corinthians 15:7 ), and is mentioned as one of the apostles of the circumcision ( Acts 1:13 ). He appears to have occupied the position of head of the Church at Jerusalem, where he presided at the council held to consider the case of the Gentiles ( Acts 12:17 ; 15:13-29 : 21:18-24 ). This James was the author of the epistle which bears his name.

Source

• part_of source-manifest/easton — Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)